life with a little pizzazz
Our veil of white survived for yet another day. Yesterday afternoon and evening saw powder drifting everywhere in the wind. Last night all the powder was frosted with 1/4″ of ice.
(For the valley this is quite a scene, but it is still mild compared to the Christmas we spent iced up in Corbett. At that time 4-5 inches of ice covered everything. Explosions were heard as icy limbs plummeted to the frozen earth.)
A wintry week in Portland is capped off by a true winter storm. All week has seen snow off and on with school closures all week, although a couple of days probably should not have been called off. Today, though, we have really been hit.
We started the day off with a beautiful quiet snowfall in which we delivered food to the needy. This was followed by a trip to Sellwood to pick up the little girl from a sleep-over. The snow continued lightly the entire time while we visited. Upon leaving the snow continued but we found conditions worsening as we approached home. The winds picked up, snow deepened, we followed a snow plow, drifts in Portland accumulated. The thermometer in the car read 20 degrees and it was now quite windy.
We made it home to find drifts of powdery snow in the yard. I stayed out for a while letting the dog take care of business. Of course she loves the snow so it is hard to get her mind off playing in the snow. I shot a few photos to share with you.
Each year the Clark County Historical Museum encourages Vancouver, Washington, businesses to take part in the Extreme Scarecrow Makeover. Local businesses dress up a scarecrow. Tonight, two scarecrows and their creators were awarded as either the Mayor’s Choice Award or the People’s Choice Award. The scarecrows are then auctioned off as a fundraiser.
Pictured below is the Frida Kahlo scarecrow which we were honored to win. Frida didn’t win an award tonight but was our selection. She now graces our hallowed halls.
Frida had to part paths with her scarecrow friends which included Jimi Hendrix with Strat, Edward Scooperhands (from a local ice cream shop), robo-scarecrow and others.
Memories of childhood excitement found me buying an old Tyco HO Slot Car set at a local garage sale. Five dollars later the Zero Gravity Cliffhangers with Nite-Glow set was mine!
This is one cool set. Zero gravity, cliffhangers, nite-glow. What is all this? We never had any of this fancy stuff growing up. Just oval track, cars, speed and excitement.
Anxiety was also mine waiting to see if a mostly complete set was to be found in the well-maintained box.
A few days later father and daughter had fun puzzling the track together. Piece by piece our anticipation grew. The track was complete (with a few overpass support pieces missing) and now together. Two complete cars are found in the box and look in workable order.
Cars go on the track. Feel the gritty motion of the controller, all seems well. Time to plug in.
We are off and racing. Spiral, cliff climb and descent, vertical loop and a straight-away in a tight layout.
Kids still love this stuff — girls and boys. Kids dropping by have to try it out. Of course the older, greener part of me worries that this is promoting gas guzzling muscle cars, but then I remember that I’m truly promoting re-use and that electric vehicles can be exciting. Here are a few pictures of our set.
Here is a similar set in action.
(Based on this video, I might need to adjust our track layout.)
Is all this silly? Of course, it is fun and can be therapeutic.
And when we’re done with it, I’m sure — after confirming on eBay — that there are others that would give this set more use in their home.
A wonderful night with our little girl as she transforms into a young lady. Crickets serenaded a summer evening of thoughtful discussion and flowing poetry. We learned more of how words mean much to her and how she is growing into a deep and loving person. Crickets, huddled parents, the big dipper, a pencil, paper and an open imagination.
Our favorite end of summer concert happened this past Thursday on the waterfront in Portland. A beautiful night for great music and fireworks. Music lovingly presented by the Portland Youth Philharmonic and the Oregon Symphony.
A fun little senses challenge where you’ll get to size up King Kong and learn a little too much about Parmesan cheese. BBC has some great interactive Science and Nature content.
We’re in Anaheim for SunGardHE Summit and enjoying our stay at the Disneyland Hotel. Days are filled with conference sessions. Every night is filled with either Disneyland park or California Adventure.
The trip here was great, all quiet with no delays or other travel annoyances.
Saturday was hot, somewhere in the 90s which made standing in some of the Disneyland lines a little taxing.
A lot of fun happening here!
A long time ago a puppy named Buddy was walking down the road. All of a sudden he saw Mean Rat in his old car with that mean smile on his face.
Buddy dove into the nearest bush to hide, but it was too late. Mean Rat had seen him. Mean Rat said, “Hello Buddy, you look good in poison ivy!” Then he laughed and drove away.
“Stupid rat!” said Buddy as he ran away itching himself.
Later that afternoon Buddy saw Kikkie Kitty curled up in her chair and she saw him.
She said, “Hello Buddy, you look rather pink today. Why is that?”
Buddy said, “You know how I’m allergic to poison ivy?”
“Yes,” said Kikkie Kitty.
“Well, I saw Mean Rat in his car and I dove into the nearest bush and accidentally went into poison ivy,” he said.
“Oh, no!” said Kikkie Kitty.
“Let me finish the story. So, where was…” said Buddy being cut off by Kikkie Kitty.
“No, listen,” she said, “Your nose is wet from the poisoning.”
“I know,” said Buddy.
“It’s not stopping,” she said, “It might be permanent!”
“Oh, no,” said Buddy.
Three years later, it was still wet.
Our time, still wet!
That’s how dogs got wet noses!
A young writer approached with a challenge… a writing challenge. Each author blessed with minutes to create poetry. One charged with placing words on lines to mask ownership. The judge lurked in the writing of the little lady. Lurk in our little writing journey and express yourself. The little lady sharing her light with us continues to amaze and delight.
In the woods lurking
All is completely dark
For now we’re here
Do not fear the darkness that we fight
Wait… don’t move
Someone’s coming
Listen
I don’t hear
It is the darkness lurking
For now it is half-past nine
Darkness and light
Are completely different
Seeing your life
Through another’s eyes
Opens doors
Otherwise denied
A child-like eagerness
Unbounds limits
Doomed upon us
By time’s quiet kiss
Step off
Embrace life
Make it yours
A vibrant journey